Academics use their education and knowledge from extensive studies to make a living and achieve their life’s ambitions. Academics are generally held in higher regard than most other backgrounds, as their skills are sought after by the wealthy and powerful. Academics make great researchers, investigators, and versatile problem-solvers.
Archivists are dedicated to the recording and preservation of knowledge. Archivists are often tasked with scouring tomes for errors and falsehoods, because to an archivist there is no greater sin than the recording of lies. Great Archivists often become well respected scholars, holding great power over the future of a kingdom. Regardless, Archivists are often sought out by other Academics, who collaborate with them to complete their own work in related fields.
Rank 1 - Scribe’s Assistant
You have become a valued member of a library after learning about the art of collecting and storing written materials. Your years of completing bureaucratic tasks have made you an expert in locating information on specific and obscure subjects.
Holdings:
A desk within a library, college, or museum, with access to common resources.
A well-regarded text which is suspected to contain falsehoods, with made-up accounts and references.
Progression:
To progress in this profession, you must fact-check and document your discovery of errors in a fraudulent, plagiarised, or mistaken tome.
Rank 2 - Scribe
You have been appointed the honoured task of transcribing and recreating texts. You are a builder of libraries, a recorder of history, and an entrusted relayer of knowledge for generations
to come. As a Scribe, it is your job to record the knowledge of the world. Scribes often venture out into the world to find and document information first-hand.
Holdings:
An office with printing materials, binding equipment, and a dedicated hireling assistant who completes minor tasks for you.
Access to restricted sections of libraries and other places of collective knowledge.
Progression:
To progress in this profession, you must complete and restore a catalogue of books or scrolls to be added to a library. Your contribution to the library must be deemed a worthy addition by your superiors.
Rank 3 - Chief Librarian
Your dedication to the acquisition and preservation of knowledge has brought you to great heights within the world of academia. You are responsible for the library you serve, from
acquiring and copying new texts, to preserving and reviewing existing ones. A Chief Librarian is expected to go to great lengths to fact-check the contents of their library, preferably in person.
Holdings:
A great library containing texts collected over centuries.
A team of hirelings who attend the day-to-day running of the library, such as scribes, assistants, and scholars. Additionally, your name is highly regarded within the world of academia.
Access to the entire library, including forbidden tomes and the knowledge they contain.
Progression:
To progress in this profession, you must have made an unprecedented contribution to the world of academia. This may be the uncovering of a great truth, or the invention of a new
methodology.
Rank 4 - Grand Loremaster
As Grand Loremaster, you are the undisputed regional authority in all matters of scholarly concern. For this reason, you are highly revered by figures of prominence for your knowledge and
advice. A system of academics looks to you for guidance on obtaining knowledge and spreading enlightenment.
Holdings:
You have become head of a regional educational or knowledge-based institute, such as a ministry or college. The institution’s resources are at your command.
You have authority over all smaller libraries and educational institutions within your region, including access to their resources and hirelings.
You have access to sources of knowledge that have otherwise been sworn to secrecy by Imperial order, royal decree, or a warlord’s command. These sources of knowledge can include such secrets as forbidden arcane practices, demons’ true names, and schematics for powerful artifacts.
- Skill Proficiencies: Gain History, then choose one from Arcana, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Religion.
- Tool Proficiencies:
- Languages: Choose one standard and one exotic.
- Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, a letter opener, parchment, An ink pen, a bottle of ink, a tin of pounce powder, and 10 gp.
Biologist - Whenever you make an Intelligence (Nature) check to determine the properties of animals, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Botanist - Whenever you make an Intelligence (Nature) check to determine the properties of plants, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Copycat - Whenever you make an Intelligence or Intelligence (Forgery Kit) check to forge or create a document, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Diligent Researcher - Whenever you make an Intelligence check to research a subject, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Disciplinarian - Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation) check while issuing a command to an individual of lower rank within your background, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Drunkard - Whenever you make a Constitution check to determine if you will throw up, pass out, or how severe a hangover is, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Forecaster - Whenever you make a Wisdom (Survival) check to determine the weather for the next 48 hours, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Gambler - Whenever you make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Wisdom (Perception) check to cheat at a game or catch someone else cheating, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Local Historian - Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check to determine the history of an item, location, or cultural phenomenon from the same region as you, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Mystical Scholar - Whenever you make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to recall information on Aberrations, Constructs, or Elementals, you can add your Profession Die to the result.
Passionate Orator - Whenever you make a Charisma (Performance) check to influence an Academic, Military, or Clergy member, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Pathologist - Whenever you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check to diagnose or treat a disease, add your Profession Die to the roll.
Problem Solver - Whenever you make an Intelligence (Investigation) check to decipher a coded message or puzzle, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Runekeeper - Whenever you make an Intelligence (Arcana) check to uncover the properties and uses of magical runes, glyphs, or other symbols, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Sawbones - Whenever you make a Wisdom (Medicine) check dealing with Grievous Wounds, you can add your Profession Die to the roll.
Translator - Whenever you make an Intelligence check to communicate with a creature who doesn’t share a language with you, you can add your Profession Die to the result.
Upon spending an hour, and succeeding on a medium-DC Intelligence (Investigation) check, you can find a contact within a library, academy, or place of knowledge. This contact begins as friendly to you and will answer questions you have regarding research.
Level 1 [roll]1d4[/roll] + Intelligence (History)
Level 2 [roll]1d6[/roll] + Intelligence (History)
Level 3 [roll]1d8[/roll] + Intelligence (History)
Level 4 [roll]1d10[/roll] + Intelligence (History)
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